A Kid in a Candy Shop

I’ve been an epublished author for just about a year with three books under my belt. But nothing can compare to the excitement of receiving my first print book. In many ways, I was as giddy as a child stepping into a candy shop for the first time.

I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember. When I received my first official contract (with Decadent Publishing), I was over the moon. Finally someone other than my friends and critique partners believed in my writing enough to take a chance on me. That, in itself, was a huge lift. Since that first contract, I’ve gone through some more firsts and the excitement has been replaced by the feeling of professionalism. This is, after all, a job.

But this new first, of getting to hold my print book in my hands, I didn’t mind indulging in the giddiness of a newbie. Finally, after 41 years, I was able to hold a book of my own creation in my hands. Even as I type this my heart is squeezing and I’m getting giddy all over again. I grinned from ear to ear until my cheeks hurt the day UPS delivered my copies. A world of emotions swirled inside my chest. Excitement (of course), pride (because one of my dreams had come true), concern (because what if nobody wanted it???), humility (because even though I was at this awesome place in my writing life, I still have SO MUCH to learn), thanks (to Decadent Publishing for believing in me still), and hope (because where will my writing career take me next?).

But I think mostly over the last month, I focused on enjoying the feel of my print book in my fingers and the smell of paper pages. I took the book with me to work, to meetings with friends, to my exercise classes at the gym. I wanted everyone who touched my life to see what I had created. There will always be time enough to focus on the professional aspects of the job. For a while, I just want to cherish being that little kid in the candy shop for the very first time.

Me, in Scotland one summer

Get Lost in the World of Fractured Paradise

Welcome back for another day of celebrating the release of my latest book, Fractured Paradise. Today I am interviewing the book's heroine, Rachel Grant. Join us to find out more about Rachel, her hero Aidan, her job in one of the world's best bodyguard agencies, and what it's like in the city of Sunderland.

ALEXA: Folks, Rachel is a computer genius.
RACHEL: Well, I wouldn't say genius.


ALEXA: You're too modest. I've heard about how you got recruited. Can you share that story with our readers?
RACHEL: The International Protective Network recruited me. I was on a short list of world-wide hackers. Let's just say I had a choice: work with IPN or go to court in the US.

ALEXA: So you live and work in Edinburgh, Scotland. What brought you to Sunderland, England?
RACHEL: My grandparents lived in England until my grandfather died. After that, my grandmother moved to Edinburgh to be closer to me. I'm back in Sunderland now because my grandmother wants to move back to their house that she kept even after my grandfather died. The house needs some work and nobody else in the family would help her so I took 2 weeks vacation to come down here.

ALEXA: Tell us about Aidan. What was your first impression of him?
RACHEL: I admit it was something at first sight for me. I don’t want to say love because it took a while to get to that point and I don’t want to say lust because that instant connection felt stronger than pure lust. I was immediately attracted to him, but I fought it tooth and nail.

ALEXA: What do you love most about him?
RACHEL: How much he cares about me and how honest he is. He’ll tell me things exactly as they are no matter what, even if I don’t want to hear them, but he has never lied to me. That’s important to me.

ALEXA: And what about him annoys you?
RACHEL: Sometimes his bluntness can get on my nerves. There are other things, too, but they’re minor. He really is the perfect man for me.

ALEXA: What's your favorite music?
RACHEL: I’m into heavy alternative.

ALEXA: How do you feel about Sunderland?
RACHEL:  When I first got back here, I hated it. I only came for my grandmother, but as I got to know Aidan and the other locals, and I remembered the happy times I spent here as a child, I fell in love with it all over again.

ALEXA: Which city do you like better? Edinburgh or Sunderland?
RACHEL: I love them both. They both have different things that make them special.

ALEXA: What do you do with your free time?
RACHEL: I spend it with Aidan or my friends. When I’m on vacation and he’s not, I’ll sometimes take the tours that he’s leading. I love exploring as much as I can of the UK. I also like watching soccer, or football as they call it here.

ALEXA: What's the best thing about working at the IPN?
RACHEL: I love the opportunity to help people, to bring criminals to justice and assist the operatives in protecting the innocent. Plus, we’re really like a family.

ALEXA: Let's go back to your grandmother's cottage. In the beginning, you didn't really want to be there. Why not?
RACHEL: At first, all I could remember were the times my mother dumped me on my grandparents for the summer so she could travel across the US with my sister who was a participant in beauty pageants.

ALEXA: Now for the important questions. What’s your favorite UK candy?
RACHEL: Mars bars. I have yet to have one fried, but I wouldn’t mind trying that.


ALEXA: And your favorite treat besides candy?
RACHEL: Sausage rolls. LOVE them!  I’m sure I’ve gained quite a bit of weight since I moved here just from Mars bars and sausage rolls!

ALEXA: If you had one chance to convince people to read your story, what would you tell them?
RACHEL: Fractured Paradise is a glimpse at life in Sunderland, England from an American woman’s eyes. It’s a story about embracing who you are, forgiving yourself and allowing happiness into your heart.

ALEXA: Wow! Thanks, Rachel. That’s a better quick description than I could do.
RACHEL: You don’t do too bad yourself, Alexa.

ALEXA: I know you probably have to go, so I won’t keep you any longer. Thanks for stopping by.
RACHEL: Yeah, I do need to get going. I’ve got a conference call for one of the IPN operatives who’s working in Los Angeles this week. Thanks for having me!

Remember, folks. Every comment left yesterday or today goes into the raffle for a FREE copy of this romantic suspense book! I'll be choosing a winner after midnight and posting the winner's name in the comment section tomorrow morning. AND all week I'm having a release party on my own blog too so head over there as well for more Fractured Paradise details and prizes!

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Alexa on Facebook
Alexa on Goodreads
Alexa's blog
Alexa's website
(I'm also on Twitter: @AlexaBourne)

Alexa Bourne Gets Lost in England!

Hello, readers! Join me in celebrating RELEASE DAY for my brand new book, FRACTURED PARADISE! I'll be celebrating with you here today and tomorrow, and all week on my own blog! This story is very special to me because the setting is my mother's hometown of Sunderland, England. Also, this contemporary romantic suspense story started out as a way for me to deal with my grandmother's death several years ago. Of course, it's changed quite a bit since then, but I still love it, and I hope I've done my Sunderland relatives proud!

First, here's a bit more about me:

Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romantic suspense writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She is thrilled to be writing for Decadent Publishing and to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere.

When she's not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to interact with readers, so visit her web page, hang out at her blog, follow her on Twitter or drop her a note at Alexa@alexabourne.com!

And now for the Book Blurb:

Technical analyst Rachel Grant arrives in Sunderland intent on tidying up her grandmother’s cottage, but the disaster she discovers requires more than a gentle sweep of a dust rag. Determined to please the most important person in her life, she trades her computer keyboard for a hammer and nails to make the repairs. She doesn’t count on the chilly reception from the locals who want to claim Nan’s home as their own.

Tour guide Aidan Camden wants to buy the cottage. He’s determined to acquire the property no matter how attractive he finds the current occupant. However, when tragedy strikes, throwing them both into a tailspin, he discovers he wants more than the house. He longs for the sexy American as well. Can Aidan put his own ghosts to rest in time to save the woman who’s claimed his heart?

Here's what people are saying about this book!

This is a highly sensual, fast-paced romantic suspense with a craggy, grieving hero and a determined yet guilt-ridden heroine. Together, in both wanting and striving for a cottage on small Northumbrian island, they discover love, passion and the strength to move on. Aidan is just the kind of man I would like to spend time with in a cottage on an island! An inspiring, romantic read.

~~~~Lindsay Townsend, historical romance.

A good novella is the equivalent of haute cuisine – fantastic quality that leaves you satisfied yet wanting more. That is how I would describe Fractured Paradise – a well written story, with believable characters that I wanted to get to know even better.

I was intrigued by the conflict between protagonists Rachel Grant, who has gone to Sunderland to honour her grandmother’s wish of repairing her old cottage home and Englishman Aiden Camden who wants to buy the cottage to honour his dead wife’s dreams.

This conflict is as real as the intense longing the pair feel towards each other, but must fight for fear of abandoning their promises. The language Alexa Bourne uses is rich and sensual, creating realistic scenes of love and lust, which only added to the story and were never thrown in for affect or for the sake of it.

But Fractured Paradise is not solely a love story but a suspense, which entraps the reader into devouring the whole story in one sitting as I did. My only disappointment was that it finished all too quickly.

A very enjoyable read.  ~~~~~~~~~~Laurey Buckland, author of A Girl's Guide to Fairy Tales

Pretty cool, huh? Are you grabbed by the story yet? No? Not yet? Well, maybe this will help tempt you even more:

Excerpt:

“A bit of a disappointment, I expect.” A rich, deep voice with a twinge of an English accent drifted from behind her.

She whirled around. Her hair whipped against her cheeks and made her wish for the hundredth time today she hadn’t packed all her hair clips.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

The stranger paused beside the edge of the clearing, and her heart stuttered. Although no one would mistake him for a Hollywood leading man, this guy could command attention by stepping into a room. Or onto an island.

“That’s okay. You didn’t.” She permitted her gaze to wander over him.

He kept his hands stuffed into the front pockets of faded jeans. The wind tore at his gray long-sleeved shirt, outlining the contours of a well-defined chest. Unruly light brown hair touched his collar. High cheekbones accented his deep-set eyes. Not friendly eyes, but no threat lay behind them either, at least none she could uncover.

He pulled a hand from his pocket and held it out. “Aidan Camden of Dawson Tours, your neighbor from across the water.” He tipped his head toward the way he’d come. Camden. His name sounded familiar, but why? She shook his hand with a hint of hesitation. “Rachel Grant.”

His fingers warmed her skin, his grip strong and confident. Awareness trailed along her arm. Then again, it could be the accent that made her skin tingle. British accents never failed to stir her emotions.

A trace of a smile danced on his lips. “Aye, the American.”

Huh. “You know of me?”

A low rumble of laughter slipped from his mouth, the sound relaxing her from deep within. “Word travels fast here. I saw you paddling your way out.”

Paddling? No, he’d seen her fighting with the oars. Until today, she’d never set foot on a boat, much less held an oar. But she would consider swimming across the Atlantic Ocean if it would make Nan happy.

“Tell me, Mr. Camden, are you in the habit of following foreigners?”

“No, lass, but you’re all the talk of the Roker area. The mighty Grant descendant, come to see about selling the family cottage.”

Selling?

The book is available TODAY at:
Decadent Publishing
Amazon

Be sure to come back tomorrow and you can meet Rachel Grant, the heroine of this story. Find out more about her, her work with the International Protective Network and her thoughts about the hero, Aidan.

AND, as if that isn't enough to bring you back, I'll be choosing one commenter from my Get Lost Release Party to WIN a copy of the book!